Burial vault



N0V 17, 1931- F. c. AUFDERHEIDE 1,832,611

BURIAL VAULT 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DGO.

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Nov. 17, 1931. Q AUFDERHEmE 1,832,611

BURIAL vAULT Filed DeC- 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6% l F155- 3 f6 Fig.

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 FRED C. AUFDERHEIDE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURIBURIAL VAULT Application led December 27, 1929. Serial No. 416,770.

This inventionrelates to burial vaults. An object of theinvention'isto'provide a burial vault that is impervious to water. v Theinvention maybe 'embodied in a vault comprising an impervious metalliclining veneered or enameled or enclosed by non-cor-l rodible material.Or, the device may be embodied in a construction not including metallicWalls, such, for instance, as glass or other 10. vitreous material, orporcelain, or other substances or material capable of satisfactoryT usefor this purpose. In suggestingthese specific'materials, `Ido notin anyparticular restrict myself, and these materials are men- 15- tioned onlyas illustrative of embodiments of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to pro.- vide an improved burialvault of impervious structure comprising a lid or lcover jointed withthevault by `an impervious joint and constructed to shed and defiect waterand moisture in a direction away from theside wallsofthevault. l

v. Other objects will appear from the followaccompanying drawings inwhich- .A

Fig. lis a perspective view of a vault embodying thepresentinvention. jl 2 `is a sid elevation with parts broken. away .and 'in section toVdisclose. various features of `the invention. f Fig. 3 is averticalcross `sectionaltview ap proximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;.'

..., Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectionalview approximately on theline 4 4 of Fig. 2. L

Fig. 5 is a view with parts in section and broken away to disclose avariant 'of the in'- vention; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional lviewappror'imately on the line .t5-f6 of Fig..5. y Y

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional lView showing the connection of the lidwith a sidewall ofthevault.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figx showing the vault made of a diit'erentmaterial.

9 is a vertical cross sectionall view approximatelyion the line 9 9 of.Fig. The vault shown in Figs. 1l to 4, inclusive, comprises imperviousmaterial forming a lining and strong and durable material eningdescription, reference being made tot-he closing the lining. The lid ofthe vault com` prises an impervious lining portion and an outer portioninseparably united with the` inner portion and strengthening the same.The lid is united with the walls of the vault proper by an imperviousjoint and is constructed and arranged to shed and cast off water andmoisture out of contact with the walls of the vault.

The inner portion of the vault shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive,comprises a bottom wall 1 having projections 2 on its lower side;longitudinal side walls 3 rising from integral connection with the sideedges of the bottom wall 1 and having projections 4 on their outersides; and endl walls 5 rising from integral connection with the ends ofthe bottom wall 1 and having their side edges integral with the ends ofthe end Walls 8 and having on their outer edges projections 6. Thesewalls 1, 3 and 5 are impervious as to moisture and may be made of glassor other vitreous material or ot any other material appropri ate for thepurpose, such as suitable metallic' substances.

This box-like structure comprising the walls 1, 3 and 5 is enclosed inand surrounded by a monolithic bo): comprisinga bottom wall 7, sidewalls 8 integrally connected with and rising from the side edges of thebottom wall 7 and end walls 9 integrallyV connected with the ends of the`bottom walls 7 and the ends of the side walls 8. The projections 2 and4 and 6 are embedded in the monolithic walls so that it is impossiblefor the inner impervious box-like device to `be detached or removed fromthe lithic enclosure.

The upper edgesvlO of the walls 8 and the upper edges 110i' the walls 9incline down-v wardly and outwardly. The walls 8 and 9 arel of the sameheight.

The inner walls 3 and 5 extend above the upper edges of the walls 8- and9 and are formed with an inner ogee structure 12, being Sii tinuation ofthe upper edges 10 and 11 of the walls 8 and 9.

The upper portions of the walls 8 are formed with recesses 14 acrosseach of which a pin 15 extends. A leaf-spring 16 extends into each ofthe recesses 1li, the lower ends of said springs being embedded in thewalls 8.

The lid of this vault comprises an impervious inner member 17 which maybe made of any suitable material, such as vitreous substance, and has onits upper side a` number of projections 18. The side and end edges ofthe member 17 are in the form of downwardly and inwardly curved flanges19. A lithic enclosure 2() for the member 17 is provided and embeds theprojections 1S and also the outer side portions of the iianges 19, sothat it is impossible for the parts 17 and 20 to become separated. Thelithic member E20 has downwardly and outwardly inclined. portions Q1which extend outwardly beyond the outer sides of the Vwalls 8 and 9 soas to deilect water and moisture outwardly away from said walls 8 and 9.The lower edges 22 of the parts 21 are inclined in the manner of theedges 10 and 11. Metallic elements Q3 are embedded transversely in thelithic structure 20 and have their ends bents and eX- tended upwardly toprovide loops 211 to receive straps or bands whereby the lid may belowered onto the vault from above. The lid may be equipped with latches25 having their upper ends mounted on pivots 26. The latches aredesigned and arranged to extend downwardly into the recesses 14. and tobe `snapped under the pins 15 automatically and as an incidentto thelowering of the lid to proper position, as will be understood byreference to Fig. 2. The springs 1G permit the latches 25 to movedownwardly into latching engagement with the pins 15 and prevent saidlatches from working out of engagement with said pins 1f'.

i n impervious joint between the lid and the vault is provided byplacing on the upper edge of the vault a layer 27 of cementitious orother appropriate plastic material which will harden and form animpervious seal after the lid is placed thereon. The edges 19 of the lidinner member 17 presses the joint forming substance 27 into closecontact with the grooved outer side of the flange 17 while otherportions of the lid press the substance 27 in a manner such that whensaid substance hardens an impervious joint is provided.

The improved vault, shown in Figs. 5. G and 7. is oi a vitreous orlithic substance comprising a bottom wall 2S. longitudinal side walls Q9rising from integral connection with the side edges of the wall 28 andend walls 30 integrally connected with the ends ot the bottom wall Q8and with the ends of the side walls 29. The upper edges ot these walls28 and 29 are curved inwardly and upwardly to provide a joint Harige 31hav1 ing along the outer side of its upper edge a flange .32. The lid orcover of this vault is composed of vitreous or other appropriateimpervious material and comprises a top portion 33 having a downwardlyextended flange 34e. along its side and end edges. The inner side of theflange 34 has a bead 35 designed and arranged to compress the plasticjoint forming substance 36 into close sealing contact with the iange 31.The edges of the flange Si extend outwardly beyond the outer sides ofthe walls 29 and 30, so as to cast off water and moisture.

The vault shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is quite similar in construction andarrangement to that shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and may be considered asan illust-ration of an embodiment of the invention comprising anymaterial having its outer surface rendered impervious. Porcelain is onesuch material. rThis vault comprises a bottom wall 37, longitudinal sidewalls 38 rising from integral connection with. the side edges of thewall 37, and end walls 39 integrally connected with the ends of the wall37 and with the ends of the wall 38. The upper edges ot the walls 38 and39 are formed with a flange 40 having along the outer side of its upperedge a bead 41. The lid maj7 be made with the same material as the bodyof the vault and comprises a top portion l2 having along its side andend edges a depending flange 43. The liange 43 is formed along its innerside with a bead 44 which will compress the plastic joint formingsubstance 45 closely against all portions of the outer side of theflange 40. so as to form an impervious joint.

These lids are formed with integral loop handles 46 through which strapsor the like may be passed to lower the lids onto the vaults.

In mentioning the diierent elements and substances which may be usedsatisfactorily in the manufacturing of this invention, I have notintended to restrict myself to the use of these specific substances.For, it is clear that other substances may be used with equalsatisfaction. And it is clear that the construction and arrangement ofthe device may be varied within equivalent limits without departure fromthe nature and principle thereof. I do not restrict myself in any unessential respects. but what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A burial vault comprising lithic bottom, side and end wallsintegrally united with each other and forming a box-like structure,vitreous bottom, side and end walls integrally united with each otherand lining said lithic box-like structure and forming an imperviousinner surface therefor, means holding said vitreous walls rigidly inconnection with said lithic walls, a. lid t'or the vault, and means forsecuring said lid on the vault.

2. A burial vault comprising lithic bottom= side and end wallsintegrally united with each other and forming a box-like structure,vitreous bottom, side and end walls integrally united with each otherand lining said lithic box-like structure and having their Y upper edgesextending above the upper edges of said side and end walls and formingan impervious inner surface for said lithic walls, a lid for the vaulttelescoping about the upper portion of said vitreous walls, and means between said lid and said lithic and vitreous walls forming an hermeticjoint.

3. A burial vault comprising vitreous bot-V tom, side and end Wallsintegrally united with each other and forming a receptacle, a flangeintegral with said side and end walls extending inwardly and upwardlytherefrom, an outwardly extended bead integralwith the outer side oftheupper marginal portion of said flange, a lid telescoping about saidflange, and means confined between the lower edge of said lid andthe'upper edges of said side and end walls and also between said flangeand the inner surface of said lid forming an hermetic joint between saidlid and said walls;

4. A burial vault comprising lithic bottom, side and end wallsintegrally united with each other and forming a box-like structurehaving the upper edges of said side and end walls inclining downwardlyand outwardly, vitreous bottom, side and end walls integrally unitedwith each other and lining said lithic box-like structure and forming animpervious inner surface for said lithic walls, an inwardly and upwardlyextended flange integral with the upper portions of said vitreous wallsextending above the upper edges of said lithic walls, a lid telesconingabout said flange, and means located between said lid and said lithicwalls and said vitreous flange forming an hermetic joint.

A burial vault comprising lithic bottom, side and end walls integrallyunited with each other and forming abox-like strueture having the upperedges of said side and end walls inclining downwardly and outwardly,vitreous bottom, side and end walls integrally united with each otherandlining said lithic box-like structure and forming an impervious innersurface for said lithic walls, an inwardly and upwardly extended flangeintegral with the upper portionsof said vitreous walls extending abovethe upper edges of said lithic walls, a lid telescoping about saidflange, means located between said lid and said lithic walls and saidvitreous flange forming an hermetic joint, means for v securing said lidin rigid relationship with respect to said lithic and vitreous walls,and extended portions in connection with said lid extending beyond theouter surface of said lithic walls and guarding and shielding saidjoint.

FRED C. AUFDERHEIDE.

